How long does the tetanus shot last?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on November 22, 2024
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The duration of the effectiveness of a tetanus shot depends on whether tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin is administered following a suspected tetanus infection. Both types are forms of artificial passive immunity, providing immediate specific immunity after injection, mainly for treatment or emergency prevention. The metabolism and immune duration of these two injections vary: generally, tetanus antitoxin lasts about seven days, while tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks. Therefore, the specific duration of the effectiveness of a tetanus shot must be determined based on the individual injection circumstances. For suspected tetanus infections, it is generally advised to administer the injection as soon as possible. It's not that the injection will be ineffective if administered after a certain time, but rather that effective prevention before the onset of the disease can still be beneficial.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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What situations require a tetanus shot?

Usually, tetanus is caused by the toxin produced within the human body by Clostridium tetani, entering through broken skin or mucosa, leading to a specific type of infection. Tetanus is commonly found in our surroundings, such as in moist soil, rusty iron, or on bamboo sticks. When wounds are large, deep, severely contaminated, contain foreign bodies, or in cases of severe burns, scalds, or certain open fractures, it is crucial to seek timely vaccination at medical institutions.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
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Can you drink alcohol with tetanus?

Tetanus is usually caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium tetani entering the bloodstream, leading to specific clinical manifestations, including muscle tension and rigidity. In severe cases, it can cause respiratory confusion and respiratory failure. If tetanus patients consume alcohol, because alcohol can increase blood circulation and dilate blood vessels, it facilitates the absorption of toxins, accelerating and worsening the symptoms of tetanus. Therefore, patients with tetanus should not drink alcohol and should maintain a light diet.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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What are the dietary restrictions for treating tetanus?

There are actually quite a few dietary restrictions after receiving a tetanus shot, particularly if the wound is deep, which generally necessitates the administration of a tetanus injection to achieve some preventative effects. Of course, after getting a tetanus shot, there certainly needs to be certain foods you should avoid. For instance, spicy, cold, and irritating foods should be avoided as much as possible to achieve the desired effect. Then, it's necessary to analyze the specific situation. Sometimes dietary restrictions might be just one aspect to consider. After getting a tetanus shot, it's important to rest adequately, avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and other bad habits, which all could potentially render the tetanus bacterium ineffective. Therefore, a specific situation might require a second injection. In general, these conditions don’t have a significant impact, as long as you remember to adopt a light diet when such issues arise, which helps the wound heal better.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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How long does a tetanus skin test take?

Tetanus is widely used clinically and is formally known as tetanus antitoxin. Therefore, if a patient is injured and the wound is deep, such as reaching the subcutaneous fat layer or even the muscle layer in severe cases, it is necessary to prevent tetanus infection by injecting tetanus antitoxin. Before injecting the tetanus antitoxin, it is mandatory to perform a skin test to prevent the patient from experiencing allergies, even severe clinical symptoms such as anaphylactic shock. During the skin test, generally, 0.1ml of tetanus antitoxin is diluted in 0.9ml of saline, and a skin test is performed on the forearm, observing for at least half an hour.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Contraindications after a tetanus shot

Generally, after receiving a tetanus shot, it is important to check for signs of redness and itching, which are indicators of an allergic reaction. If there are no signs of an allergy, there generally is no need for concern. However, if allergic reactions do occur, it is usually necessary to administer the vaccine in divided doses using a desensitization method to effectively prevent the worsening of allergic symptoms. Of course, after such reactions, it is crucial to avoid certain foods and to improve lifestyle habits. Dietary irritants or stimulants from tobacco and alcohol can potentially damage the vaccine, leading to its ineffectiveness. Therefore, the situation should generally be assessed based on the individual's condition. Additionally, it is important to ensure timely local disinfection to prevent infections.